Stuart Hough, Sunnyside Trading Co.

It’s (already) the end of October. Costumes are waiting patiently on their hooks and pumpkins sit at the ready for their seasonal debut. As we prepare to end one major marker of autumn, we are also at the beginning of another, perhaps less observed cycle: the advent of the new moon.

So, what does the new moon have to do with antiques?

The progression through the phases of the moon is about 28 days. At first, the moon is hidden from our sight. Then, it grows (or waxes) for two weeks, peaks as a full moon, and finally, wanes for another two weeks before starting all over again as a new moon. Interestingly, the ordering of life by the phases of the moon, from agricultural practices to fishing calendars and religious holidays, has been going on for centuries.

Rituals of all shapes and sizes are important. They give meaning to our experiences, mark time, and provide a shared sense of purpose. There are rituals that are specific to our families, colleagues, and peer groups. Our culture and even geographies have rituals; in fact, you may have already made the annual pilgrimage to see the gorgeous autumn leaves along the Blue Ridge Parkways.

The moon provides yet another opportunity for us, as individuals, to establish rituals that can help us reconnect to ourselves, syncing our internal rhythms with the energy that is part of our natural world. Like the phases of the moon, we can pause at regular increments for reflection; set intentions; outline a path, and harness energy, to realize them; and then finally, contemplate what worked and what did not.

Beginning with the most recent new moon, I invite you to consider these questions with me: What do I want to do more of (and/or less of) in the next 28 days? To make this change, in which areas do I need to create space? How can I demonstrate meaningful self-compassion?

Mirrors, by their nature, also facilitate this kind of reflection and introspection. This is because when we look at a mirror, we are forced to (literally) see ourselves. You might be surprised to know that most of the mirrors at Sunnyside were once actually doors and windows! This meant they once framed an exterior view, before being lovingly reoriented. We work with artisans from India and China to repurpose and repackage eighteenth and nineteenth century wooden door and window frames as mirrors. As you can see from the featured mirrors in this newsletter, each frame is unique, and adorned with intricate carvings of deities; flora and fauna; and showcasing the vestiges of old paint.

If you think about it, this is a beautiful transformation: what was once a portal for viewing the external world is now a looking glass through which we can consider our internal workings.

Take a look…and see for yourself.